India gov't votes for TV ratings framework

The government of India has introduced a regulatory framework to cover the design, implementation and delivery of TV ratings data in the country.

The framework is based on recommendations put forward by the Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which has been mulling government intervention in TV audience measurement for almost six years.

TRAI’s guidelines – adopted by government, and published in September – set out a minimum sample size of 20,000 homes, rising by 10,000 each year until the panel reaches 50,000 homes.

In addition, the guidelines require an establishment survey of 10 times the number of panel homes from which to draw the sample.

Research companies wishing to carry out TV ratings work will also have to register with the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

However, seemingly at odds with the rest of its recommendations, TRAI says it “supports self-regulation of television ratings through an industry-led body like Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC)”.http://www.research-live.com/4011059.article